Skip to Main Content
Care calculator »  cataract eye surgery »

What activities should you avoid after cataract surgery? And for how long?

Most people may resume their normal activities within 24 hours of cataract surgery. Your doctor should give you specific instructions after your surgery, but in general, follow these guidelines:

  • Don’t drive for 24 hours after your surgery.
  • Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activities for a few weeks.
  • Immediately after surgery, avoid bending over, which puts pressure on the eye.
  • Try not to sneeze or vomit right after surgery.
  • Don’t swim or use a hot tub for one week after surgery.
  • Avoid eye irritants like pollen, dust, wind, and dirt for a few weeks after surgery.
  • Don’t rub your eyes after surgery.

What is cataract surgery?

How painful is cataract surgery?

Are you awake during cataract surgery?

How long does it take for you to recover from cataract surgery?

What kinds of complications may occur after cataract surgery?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.